Huancavelica facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Huancavelica
City
Plaza de armas of Huancavelica at night, The cathedral of Huancavelica.
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  "Villa Rica de Oropesa"
Huancavelica Location in Peru
Country	Peru
Region	Huancavelica
Province	Huancavelica
Founded	5 August 1572
Founded by	Francisco de Toledo
Area
• Total	514.10 km2 (198.50 sq mi)
Elevation	3,676 m (12,060 ft)
Population  (2017)
• Total	49,570
• Estimate  (2015)	47,866
• Density	96.421/km2 (249.729/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Huancavelicano(a)
Time zone	UTC-5 (PET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (PET)
Website	www.munihuancavelica.gob.pe

Aerial view of Huancavelica

In ancient times, people here started raising animals like alpacas and llamas.

The Huancavelican pachamanca is a traditional meal cooked in the ground. It includes meats like sheep, goat, and guinea pigs, along with vegetables like corn and potatoes.

Huancavelica (Spanish pronunciation: [waŋkaβeˈlika]), also called Wankawillka in Quechua, is a city in Peru. It is the capital city of the department of Huancavelica. In 2017, about 49,570 people lived there.

The city was officially started on August 5, 1572, by Francisco de Toledo, who was the Viceroy of Peru. Many Indigenous peoples live in Huancavelica. The city is very high up, about 3,676 meters (12,060 feet) above sea level. The weather is cold and dry from February to August, and it rains a lot from September to January.

Geography and Landscape

The area around Huancavelica has a very rugged landscape. The land goes from low valleys at 1,950 meters (6,398 feet) to tall, snow-covered mountains over 5,000 meters (16,404 feet) high. These mountains are part of the western Andes mountain range.

Some of the highest mountains in the area include Sitaq (5,328m), Wamanrasu (5,298m), and Altar (5,268m). Several important rivers flow through the region, such as the Mantaro, the Pampas, the Huarpa, and the Churcampa. The Pampas River starts in the high mountain lakes of Huancavelica, like Chuqlluqucha and Urququcha.

History of Huancavelica

Before the Spanish arrived, the Huancavelica region was known as Wankawillka, meaning "sacred stone." The city itself was founded on August 5, 1572, by Francisco de Toledo, who was the viceroy of Peru. The community has grown a lot since then.

The Mercury Mines

In the 1560s, valuable mercury deposits were found in Huancavelica. The Spanish Crown took control of these mines in 1570 and ran them until Peru became independent in 1821. These mines were very important because mercury was needed to extract silver from ores. This process was used in silver mines across Peru and in Potosí (which is now in Bolivia).

Working in the mercury mines was extremely difficult and dangerous. To get enough workers, the Viceroy Francisco de Toledo brought back and improved an old Inca system called the mita. This was a mandatory service where people had to work in the mines for a certain period.

Because of the discovery of mercury, a hill near the city became very famous. This led Viceroy Francisco de Toledo to establish the city in 1572, naming it Villa Rica de Oropesa. In 1648, the Viceroy of Peru said that Potosí (for silver) and Huancavelica (for mercury) were "the two pillars that support this kingdom and that of Spain."

In more recent times, Huancavelica faced challenges and didn't progress as fast as other parts of Peru. However, the government is now paying more attention to the city, and things are starting to improve.

A special wedding song sung by a young girl from this region was even included on the Golden Record. This record was sent into space on the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 probes in 1977, carrying sounds and images from Earth for any intelligent life that might find them.

Climate

Getting Around

You can travel to and from Huancavelica by bus. There are paved roads connecting the city to Huancayo and Lima. Another road links it to the coastal city of Pisco. Buses leave from the bus station on the west side of the city.

Huancavelica also has a train service that runs between it and Huancayo. This train is famously known as "el Tren Macho." People jokingly say it "leaves when it wants and arrives when it can," because it's not always on a strict schedule. In 2010, the train line was updated to a standard gauge, making it more modern.

Education

Huancavelica is home to the National University of Huancavelica. This university also has campuses in other cities within the region. Another university, the University for Andean Development (Universidad para el Desarrollo Andino), is located in Lircay, which is about an hour away from Huancavelica. There are also other schools for technical training, like the Technological High Institute and the Instituto Superior Pedagogico.

Places to Visit

The city has many old buildings from the colonial period. There are eight churches located throughout the city. The most important one is the cathedral, which stands in the main square. Another interesting place to visit is the former Santa Barbara mine. It's about three kilometers (nearly 2 miles) from the city. This mine was very famous during colonial times for its mercury extraction.

The main sports stadium in Huancavelica is the IPD Stadium. It is one of the highest sports stadiums in the world, located at 3,676 meters (12,060 feet) above sea level. It can hold about 2,500 people.

Notable People

• Patricia Benavides (born 1969) - A lawyer who became Peru's attorney general in June 2022.

Images for kids

• 

  This geologic map shows the area around Huancavelica. The Santa Bárbara mine is at the bottom center, south of the city.

See also

In Spanish: Huancavelica para niños